Package filling device



Oct. 3, 1950 .1. wlcKLUND PACKAGE FILLING DEVICE Filed May 2, 1949 fyi llll

Patented Oct. 3, 1950 UNITED STATES `PiIIENT `UFFICI?.

PACKAGE FILLING DEVICE John Wicklund, Minneapolis, Minn. Application May 2, 1949, Serial No. 90,893

`il Claims.

My' invention relates generally `to I devices `for i lling receptacles and, more particularly, to de- Vvices` whichfacilitate the home packaging of vegetables `for storage in afreezing compartment.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of `a "device of the type above-described, which is inexpensive to produce, light in weight, easy to operatafanddurable `in use.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a package-filling device which may be readily adjusted, within limits, to t packages of varying sizes.

A still further object yof my invention is the provision of a device including a rectangular funnel, in which said funnel is pivotally mounted for movements to and from operative receptaclefllling position.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel device in operative position, some parts being broken away and others shown in section;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective View of the sliding head of my novel device.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the numeral I indicates a base plate for supportlng a bag or like receptacle 2 thereon. The base plate I is preferably rectangular and has rigidly secured adjacent one edge thereof a generally upright supporting post 3. Mounted for sliding movements on the post 3 is `a head 4 that may be locked in any desired set position on the post 3 by means ofl a set screw or the like 5. A horizontal shaft 6 iprojects laterally outwardly from the head 4 and is provided, adjacent the head 4, with a stop collar l. A generally U-shaped stop bracket 8 comprises a pair of spaced stop pins or legs 9 and IU, extending laterally outwardly from the head Il in spaced parallel relationship to the shaft G, and an arched bridge element II. It will be seen, by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, that the stop pins 9 and Ill are disposed in a plane slightly below a horizontal plane extending through the axis of the shaft 6, and that the bridge element I I arches over the shaft 6 in a vertical plane spaced from the stop collar 1 axially of the shaft E.

I providea funnel I2 generally rectangular in cross-section and which is supported `from the are bifurcated at their lower `free ends, as in- .dicated at I5, to receive the loppositeendv portions of -the shaft. It fwillpbenoted, `particularly by reference to Figs. l and=2, that the` alm/ I3 is disposed between the stop collar I and the bridge element I I so that movement of the funnel I2 axially of the shaft 6 is limited thereby..

The funnel I2 is movable on an are about the axis of the shaft 6 from a bag-loading position shown by full lines in Fig. 2 to an inoperative position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. shown, when the funnel I2 is in its full line operative loading position wherein the axis thereof extends in a vertical direction, the upper edge of the arm I3, adjacent the bifurcated end thereof, engages the stop pin lil. With the funnel I2 in this position, it will be seen that the open bottom portion thereof directly overlies or is contained within the open top of the bag 2 thereunder and the bag may be lled with the material to be stored therein through the funnel II without danger of spilling. After the bag 2 has been filled, the funnel I2 is moved to the dotted line position of Fig. 2, wherein the axis of the funnel extends in a substantially horizontal direction, the lled bag 2 is removed, and an empty bag put in its place. It will be noted that, when the funnel I2 is in its dotted line inoperative position, the opposite edge of the arm I 3 adjacent its bifurcated end engages the stoxp pin 9, whereby to limit swinging movement of the funnel I2 in an inoperative direction. It should be obvious i that, when the funnel I 2 is moved to its inoperative position, the center of gravity thereof lies beyond a vertical plane extending through the axis of the shaft 6 so that accidental movement of the funnel I2 toward its operative position is prevented.

If desired, the bag 2 may be supported .in its proper loading position by any suitable means not shown. The shaft 6 may be raised or lowered with respect to the base plate I by loosening the set screw 5 so that the open bottom of the funnel I2 can be inserted into the open top of bags of different heights. The funnel i2 may be bodily moved out of engagement with the shaft 6 for cleaning, without interfering with the height adj-ustment of the shaft 6.

I have found that my novel device has been very effective in the savings of time and labor it in connection with lling quantities of bags or cartons for freezing storage. While I have shown a commercial embodiment of my device, it will be understood that the same is capable of modication without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened in the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for filling receptacles comprising a base, an upright supporting post on said base, a head vertically adjustably secured to said supporting post, a horizontal shaft carried by and projecting laterally from said head, a funnel, a pair of parallel arms projecting laterally outwardly and downwardly from opposite sides of said funnel, said arms being bifurcated at their lower free ends to receive opposite ends of said shaft in a manner to permit pivotal movements of said funnel with respect to said shaft, means limiting lateral movements of said arms on said shafts, and stop means limiting pivotal movements of said funnel with respect to said supporting post.

2. The structure dened in claim l in which said stop means comprises a pair of stop pins pron jecting laterally outwardly from said head on opposite sides of said shaft and adapted to engage one of said arms, one of said stop pins being so positioned as to limit movements of said funnel in one direction when the axis of the funnel is in a vertical position, and the other of said stop pins i being so located so as to limit movements of th` funnel in the opposite direction when the axis of the funnel is substantially in a horizontal position. 3. A device for filling receptacles comprising a base, an upright supporting post on said base, a head vertically adjustably secured to said supporting post, a horizontal shaft carried by and projecting laterally from said head, a funnel, a pair of parallel arms projecting laterally outwardly and downwardly from opposite sides of said funnel, said arms being bifurcated at their lower free ends to receive opposite ends of said shaft in a manner to permit pivotal movements of said funnel with respect to said shaft, a generally U-shaped stop bracket secured to said head, said bracket comprising spaced stop pin-forming legs and an arched intermediate portion, said legs projecting outwardly of said head in spaced parallel relationship to said shaft whereby to limit pivotal movements of said funnel on said shaft, the arched intermediate portion of said bracket being spaced from the head to permit passage therebetween and said head of one of said arms and limit movements of said arms axially of said shaft.

JOHN WICKLUND.

No references cited. 

